By gerardo romero
05 Sep 2023, 11:44 AM EDT
The International Swimming Federation (World Aquatics) announced this Monday that it will again allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in all its competitions as long as they defend a neutral flag in the future so that they can once again have the opportunity to aspire to their various international medals; Despite this, they detailed that only one of each nationality per test can do so.
The information was released by the highest world swimming body through a press release in which they expressed their understanding of the situation these athletes are going through and seek to give them an opportunity given the large number of doping cases that were registered in its various competencies over the past few years.
“After extensive consultations and deliberations, the body has unanimously decided on a set of criteria that will allow swimmers with Russian and Belarusian passports to participate in future world aquatics competitions as neutral individual athletes,” World Aquatics said.
The institution explained that the possibility for these athletes to compete “will be implemented by the independent Aquatic Integrity Unit, established under strict criteria that include strong anti-doping measures.”
“It will be implemented by the independent Aquatic Integrity Unit, established under strict criteria that include strong anti-doping measures. 67% of swimmers support the participation of individual neutral athletes who meet these strict criteria, ”the organization emphasized.
For his part, the president of World Aquatics, Husain Al Musallam, recognized the commitment and dedication of these athletes in recent years to demonstrate that they have all the capabilities to succeed in sports without using prohibited substances.
“Despite the challenges we face on the international scene, we recognize our responsibility to foster a competitive, fair and inclusive environment for all competitors,” he concluded.
Keep reading:
–Checo Pérez receives new accolades that place him in the elite of Formula 1
–Lionel Messi’s bodyguard ‘tackled’ an LAFC fan who rushed onto the field to touch the Argentine
– Workers at a hotel in Los Angeles ask Lionel Messi and Inter Miami not to stay at their facilities